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8 hour days suck, but today at orientation I learned a lot about people with a mental illness.  They’re people too.  I’ll post a poem that one of them wrote when I bring it home.

un-edited Journal continued:

9/17

Ditched my plan today. Went to Osaka Castle. Its just like in Alex’s videos. The park itself though is huge. I didn’t take pics of the forests because they would’ve sucked. Got lost for a bit then trained to Osaka-eki. Crossed the st. to a 8 story mall. Tons of stuff everywhere! Toys, games, phones, art. Its kind of scary being alone here, but oh well. Sucks that my Japanese sucks..

Found a cool okonomiyaki places called “Fugetsu”. They cook it for you @ ur own table. I thought I would make it myself but I’m wrong lol. I ordered large but it looks normal sized to me (saw others) looks tasty. Cost me $12 but it has squid, pork, shrimp. Its sooo good. Breakfast was carboriffic but only $5. On second thought I’m gonna be full. Taking my time, my feet hurt. I’m not even sure if I can cover Umeda in 1 day. I guess I will though.

Failed. I got lost a whole bunch in the underground area. Later I walked to the station on foot & got an idea of whats around. Found an underground food area. They sold everything from eel to hot wings & dessert. Need to go back and explore later…

9/18

I missed the train to Hakata, so I’m going to Hiroshima instead. Ate at the museum cafe. Omellette & salad. The salad was good. They eat lots of carbs here in Jpn. At least the egg had some protein. Tons of kids here on field trip. Looks kind of nice, not as much as Osaka castle though.        Found a ramen shop where u order from a machine. I got… well I find out when they bring it. Really, really wish I was fluent in Japanese. Servers here are cute. Apparently I ordered shoyu ramen, plain. Its almost as good as Daikokuya, but soy sauce…. not as good as pork. Went to Hiroshima Castle.  They recreated the rampart and ppl can go inside. I saw a big temple but didn’t know wat to do, so I left… Central park was mostly grass, stopped by a mall on the way back.

Got stuck in a smoking car, all the cars are full!  After the first stop, I got a normal seat but was standing between cars for a good 15 minutes. Better than being smoked to death though. Cute girl 2 seats over. Want takoyaki. Days in Japan w/o Sushi: 2. Its getting foggy for some reason.    Girl 2 seats over not so cute. Hope I can charge camera. It only uses USB. Next change I get, I will play Border Break. Looks fun. Have lots of bug bites on one leg. Wtf?  I’m dreading switching hostels. The other one is near a subway not covered by JR pass. Need to use ticket machine. My suitcase is not heavy but is large and unwieldy. Hope yuri & Tina & kaz actually want to see me, former 2 can’t say no, its too direct. They do that “its not convenient” thing that 日本　ppl are known for. Yes, I wrote 日本　in my journal instead of “Japanese” even though it should’ve been “日本人”.   I guess I’ll see when the day comes, eh?

Stopped at takoyaki shop near osaka stn. They have 5 kinds, hope I ordered the right one (squid). 12 for 4 bucks. No sauce =[ really hot/fresh. Soft... wish it had sauce though.. Squids very real though. They have soy & vinegar but it isn't as good as okonomiyaki sauce. Its a popular place though. Everyone works super hard in Japan. At least at restaraunts & stores... & trains &gardeners.. Kind of like Americans before the 90's... Saw a notebook like mine (its small and green!) I wrote in it! Guy next to me wolfs them down. No sauce or anything. Hes mad!

Met Jim, and 2HK girls. Had fun talking with them all. Matthias left. I checked out but am staying an extra night in secret. HK girls share a bed. Met matt & Diane from CND [Canada]. cool ppl.

9/19

Went with HK girls to Nanba. Crazy crowded, had famous takoyaki. Like it in America more, its crispier. Tons of shops. Cool Jeans. Found cheap udon place “Manmaru” near UNIQLO @ shinsaibashi. Medium udon is HUGE Dinner cost… = 800 yen got shrimp, fish cake, swt potato, & veggie fry. Doutonbouri Sushi Marukami 1/2 price at lunch ate 11 plates for 1670yen  insane! Soooo good. Toro = excellent zomg. Feet hurt. Think I’ll go back before I leave. Osaka really is the food capital. Bought chain at Umeda. Its awesome even though I don’t accessorize.  Store closed while we were inside on 7th floor. For some reason all the escalators were going up. Got on elevator before I was able to take a video. Went to the sky building. The view of the city at night is so excellent I think this is what I came to Japan to see. Its much nicer than the way it looks during the day. Also got a good view of the city and where the hostel is at. I checked out this morning but am staying secretly w/ the girls. Tomorrow I really need to find a place, hotel across the street is booked. I hope the hostel where the girls are going has an extra bed or I’m screwed. Then off to Tokyo on Monday.

9/20

Went to Kyoto, got owned, nowhere has lodging. Next I ate lunch at the Sushi place again. Wasn’t as good as yesterday, but still good. LEft luggage at J-hoppers. On way to Nara now. Hope to catch some sights before I head back & look for either an internet cafe or Sumo… then get luggage & go… Made it to Nara..I walked around a bunch n’ saw the deer and temples. Must’ve walked around for 3 hours. Didn’t cover the whole area. Also missed Kyoto. On the train to Osaka now. Gonna check the internet cafes and see which is cheaper. went to Nanba & bot a bunch of food. Cost 2300 but was good cuz I can’t read I got katsu hardboiled eggs. Gross. I had to toss them, couldn’t finish the sushi. Have 2 rolls left. Gotta check lan centers soon… talking to a chinese & thai ppl both form thailand. Getting tired This is no good…

9/21

So went to lan center. Spilled coffee on myself at about 6:30Am. Checked out at 7am. MAde it to the early train for once. Had leftover sushi (didn’t touch it from yesterday). It had shrimp, im. crab, tofu, lettuce, mayo. Even though I pigged out yesterday I’m still losing weight so its freakin awesome! On the first shink I took, I was lucky enough to get a seat where at one of the stops, I saw a safety operator guy. He stands next to the train, has a small pillar w/ phone, buttons, box, and ceiling has 3 monitors, and a security camera. He did crazy hand signals as if he was guiding an airplane on a carrier or AFB. I think he looked funny/cool. Seemed ridiculous almost like a dance. I wonder if he felt cool doing that. They have so many safety precautions.  Shink slipstreams push each other away. If both going opposite direction, gets crazy. Napped on train. Went wrong way on TOEI Subway. Probably spent too long online at new hostel. Walked to Denny. After I will go to Shinjuku on foot and find the metro gov office’s observation floor. And/or walk around. It’ll be good cuz I can view things and get an idea what landmark is what. Too bad I left my maps at the hostel…

Its cloudy and cool in Tokyo. I guess I can wear my pants after all.

@Denny’s -> Kiwi juice has sorbet in it, nabemono(?) -> Veggie & oyster tofu soup w/ udon?! Cost ->1280. Food more expensive than osaka, not as good, but still excellent.

@ Tokyo Metro Gov Building. I came too early, the sun is still setting. about 40 min to go before I see my splendid city scape at night. It appears that everyone else is waiting too. Got bed @ ace inn, went to “party” met 2 New Zealand & 1 Virginia guy. all teachers here. Met some otheres, gave away e-mail to one person. Went to Roppongi.

Part 2 over.

Tags: Japan, Sushi